Column selector



COLUMN SELECTOR Filed April; 50. I963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

IFS KEYBOARD RSTORE 896 E H65 H04 March 23, 1965 R. F. SCULLY commSELECTQR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fi1ed April 30. 1965 March 23, 1965 COLUMNSELECTOR Filed April 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Shes; 5

FIG. 6

R. F. SCULLY 3, 74,

United States Patent 5,174,683 COLUMN SELECTOR Richard F. Scully,Hopewell Junction, N.Y., assignor to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 30,1963, Ser. No. 276,720 9 Claims. (Cl. 234-19) This invention relates tothe feeding of paper and more particularly the control of a carriagefeeding paper to a printing or punching position.

On a typewriter or punch the position of the platen carriage or cardcarriage is now controlled by fixed tabulator stops, programs and thelike. Once these fixed controls are set up for a particular format suchas a bill, statement or card form, they remain fixed and must be alteredto fit any change. The selection of position in some instances is madeby a separate set of tabulating keys.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a flexibletabulating device that can be controlled from a standard keyboard.

Another object is to provide a simple circuit that can readily beadapted to control the feeding of a document to a definite position.

A further object is to provide a cheap and effective method oftabulation.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1-4 inclusive when combined as shown in FIG. 5 form a schematic ofthe invention as adapted to a card punch.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a card punch using the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the card feed drive.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described as adapted toan eighty column card punch of the type shown in detail in the US.Patent to E. W. Gardiner et 21., 2,647,581 issued August 4, 1953. Itwill be apparent that the invention could be used with any form of keyoperated business machine wherein it is necessary to control thepositioning of a document with respect to a point at which data is to beentered therein.

Only those features of the punch disclosed in the above patent will bedescribed that are needed for an understanding of the invention. Thepunch (FIGS. 6 and 7) comprises a card magazine 90 from which a card isfed by a transporting means past a set of punches 91 to a readingstation 92 and thence to a hopper 93. The punches are selectivelyoperated from a keyboard 94. As normally controlled, a drum 95 on whicha punched card is wrapped, programs the feeding of the card and certainfunctions such as automatically skipping certain fields or columns ofthe card duplicating certain data from the preceding card. spacing thecard, etc. All of the functions are fixed by the program card to occurwhen preselected columns of the card are under the punches. The punchesare selected for operation from the keyboard when one of the keys 381closes a circuit to actuate a solenoid that places an interposer betweenan operating member and a punch. Operation of the member will cause theassociated punch 91 to perforate the card. The card is transported pastthe punch position by feed rolls 97 that are controlled by an escapement106 which permits the rolls to advance the card one column for eachpunch operation. The keys mechanically control one or more of a seriesof rods (not shown 349 in the above patent) which in turn effects theclosing "ice of contacts that will operate the punch interposer magnet188 corresponding to the key operated. The rods also close contacts toactuate an escapement magnet 104 starting a columnar movement of thecard and they also open a contact to restore the keyboard to normal. Themotor 105 continuously drives the gear 196 which upon operation ofclutch 107 will drive the gear train 108-112 which will rotate thefriction rolls 113, 114 and 115 to transport cards past the punching andreading lines 116 and 117.

Only as much of the operating circuit of the punch needed for anunderstanding of the invention is disclosed in the schematic comprisingFIGS. 1-4. In the following description, whenever the reference numeralsdepart from chronological order, it may be assumed that the numeral isthat used for a like part in the above patent, i.e., 381 designatesnumeral keys in both application and patent. Also in order to simplifythe specification wherever contacts are mentioned, a normally closedcontact will be referred to as NC contact and transferred contacts as Tcontacts. Also a pick or operating winding of a relay will be called theP winding and the hold winding the H winding.

The dash lines 11] enclose the keyboard comprising keys 381. Operationof one of the keys such as the 14 key will close a circuit from zerovoltage, lead 11, normally closed KEYBOARD RESTORE contact 352-1, lead12, 4 key 381, normally closed contact 14-4 of Entry relay 14, through 4interposer magnet 188, lead 16, to positive voltage lead 17. Theoperation of the 4 interposer magnet sets an interposer at the 4 punchand actuates a bail (not shown-192 in above patent) which will closecontact 195, this will in turn cause tube T-4 to conduct over a circuitfrom 0 lead 11, contact 195, contact id-4, rectifier, contact 46-3, lead18, resistance 29, tube T-4, lead 21, through ESCAPE magnet 194 overleads 22 and 23, to plus lead 17. The ESCAPE magnet will operate andeffect a feed to the next column and also through its contact 104-1, acircuit will be closed from lead 11, lead 24, through the contact, lead25, winding of relay as, leads 23 and 17, to positive potential;operating relay 46 which at its contact 46-3 will open the circuit forthe ESCAPE magnet. During this operation, the KEYBOARD RESTORE magnet352 has been operated through cam CPS, and opens its contact 352-1,disabling the keyboard and releasing all the keys. Upon release ofmagnet 352 the keyboard is ready for a second entry.

All of the foregoing describes a normal operation of the punch. If theoperator now wishes to enter data in a particular column, for instancethe forty fifth, the tabulating is started by closing TAB. SW. 26. Thiswill complete a circuit from lead 11 through a cam operated contact CF3,switch 26, through pick winding of a latch relay 27 to positiveoverloads 28 and 23 operating the relay 27. This relay (FIG. 1) will, atits contacts 27-1 to 27-5 inclusive, open the circuits from keyscontrolling such functions as automatic space, skip, etc. that wouldinterfere with the column selection if accidently selected by theoperator or the program drum. The circuits are not completed but areonly indicated since they have no part in the present invention.

The circuit is now ready for tabulating to column forty-five. Theoperator depresses and holds down ENTRY key 39 (FIG. 1) which will closea circuit from lead 11, through the winding of relay 14, over leads 31and 23, to lead 17, operating the relay 14. This relay will transfer itscontacts thereby disconnecting the keyboard from the interposer magnets188 and connecting it to the matrix in FIG. 2.

With the ENTRY Key held closed the operator now depresses the 4 key 381closing a circuit from lead 11, contact 352-1, lead 12, T contact 14-4,lead 32, NC con- Patented Mar. 23, 1965 I tact 33-4 of ERROR relay 33,NC contact 34-4 of SECOND KEY STROKE relay 34, lead 35, through the Pwinding of TENS relay T4, to lead 17 operating the relay. The relay thenlocks up from lead 11, lead 42, NC contact 45-2, lead 36, contact T4-1,through the H winding of the relay to lead 17. This will preparecircuits of the EMITTER 40 that will be completed by the UNITS relays.

Simultaneously a circuit is closed by the 4 key over the above circuitto lead 35 (FIG. 2), thence through diode 38, over lead 41, through theP windnig of SEC- OND KEY STROKE relay 34 that operates and locks upover a circuit from-lead 11, lead 42, NC contact 45 -4, lead 43, Tcontact 34-10, through the H winding of relay 34, over lead 44, to lead17. A circuit is also closed through diode 38 over lead 41, through thewinding of the KEYBOARD RESTORE magnet 352, to lead 17 thus opening NCcontact 352-1 (FIG. 1) and removing current from the keyboard therebyrestoring all operated keys.

The operation of relay 34 will transfer the circuits such as that tracedabove for the TENS relay T4 to circuits for operating the UNIT relaysfrom the keyboard. The operator now depresses the key closing a circuitfrom lead, 11NC contact 352-1 again closed (since the relay 352 releasedupon restoring the keyboard) lead 12, 5 key, T contact 14-5, lead 47, NCcontact 33-5, T contact 34-5, over two circuits one through diode 48lead 50, NC contact T8-2, through the winding of the UNITS relay U-4,lead 51, to lead 17, the other through diode 52, lead 53, NC contactT8-4, through UNITS relay U-1 to lead 17. The two relays comprise thebinary code for five, i.e. four and one.

A circuit is now closed from lead 11 (FIG. 3), through cam switch P5,lead 54, T contact 27-1, lead 55, T contact U1-1, NC contact US-l, Tcontact U4-3, NC contact U2-1, lead 56, NC contacts T1-5, T2-5, andT3-5, T contact T4-5, over lead 57 to the forty fifth contact on theEMITTER 40.

At the same time that relays U1 and U4 are operated, a circuit is closedthrough diodes 58 and 60, lead 61, NC contact 45-3, lead 62, NC contact46-3, lead 18, firing tube T4 which operates the ESCAPE magnet 104. Thisreleases the escapement for the card feed rolls and closes T contact104-1 which operates relay 46 closing the T contact 46-3. This completesa circuit to fire tube T7 which operates the PUNCH CLUTCH magnet 204,causing the punch to go through one cycle and advance the card onecolumn. The NC contact 46-3 upon opening released tube T4 and releasedthe ESCAPE magnet holding the card feed to one column. This operation isdescribed in detail in the above patent.

Since the 5 key is locked down in the keyboard the circuits for theESCAPE and PUNCH CLUTCH will continue to be made and broken thusadvancing the card column by column. The EMITTER 40 being synchronizedwith the card feed, the brush 64 will sweep the contacts until itreaches the forty-fifth contact at which time the circuit formerlytraced through cam switch P5, NC contacts T1-5, T2-5 and T3-5 and Tcontact T4-5 will connect zero voltage through the winding of STOP relay'45 over leads 66 and 23 to positive lead 17 operating the 7 STOP relay45. This relay at its T contact 45-3, opens the circuit to the ESCAPEmagnet 104 preventing further feeding of the card. 'It opens the holdingcircuit for the T4 relay thereby opening the path through the matrix tothe forty fifth contact.

The operator now releases the ENTRY Key'30 releasing the ENTRY relay 14which in turn closes a circuit for operating the KEYBOARD RESTORE magnet352 (FIG. 2) from lead 11, through NC contact 352-1, lead 12, throughkey 4, T contact 14-4, NC contact 33-4, lead 67, NC contact 14-10, lead68, winding of relay 352 to lead 17 This opens NC contact 352-1 (FIG. 1)removing zero voltage from the keyboard releasing all keys. This alsopermits the punch to return to normal operation since the lock tripwinding LT of relay 27 is actuated over a circuit from lead 11, lead 42,T contact -1, lead 70 through the LT winding, over leads 28 and 23, tolead 17. This releases the mechanical lock on relay 27 permitting it torelease opening the circuit over lead to the decoding matrix.

Should the operator attempt to select a column ninety or even eightyone, an error circuit will be set up as follows. Depressing the 9 keywill close a circuit from lead 11, contact 352-1, lead 12, 9 key, Tcontact 14-9,

C contact 33-9, NC contact 34-9, lead 71, through winding of ERROR relay33, lead 44 to lead 17. The operation of this relay will open all thecontacts of relay 33 preventing the selection of any T relay. The KEY-BOARD RESTORE magnet 352 is also operated through the T contact 33-9,over leads 67 and 68, releasing all operated keys.

Should a column eighty eight be selected, the operation of the first 8key will operate relay T8 (FIG. 2) which will open all leads to relaysU1, U2, U4 and U8, thereby preventing their operation. Also a circuit isclosed at all T contacts of relay T8 that will operate the ERROR relay33 over leads 72 and 44. This closes the T contacts of relay 33completing a circuit from the operated key over lead 67, contact 14-10,lead 68, through the KEYBOARD RESTORE magnet 352, to restore alloperated keys indicating to the operator that an error has been made.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a keyboard operated recorder;

means for transporting a record divided into columns of index positions,step by step pasta recording point; means for driving said transportingmeans;

circuit closing means having a plurality of terminals,

said closing means acting sequentially in synchronism with saidtransporting means;

a memory means set by a key in said keyboard in accord with the tensdigit designating one of said columns;

a selecting circuit set by a second key in said keyboard,

designating the units digit of said selected column, said circuitextending through said memory means to a terminal of said circuitclosing means corresponding to the selected column; and

means to disable said transporting means when said selected terminal hasbeen reached.

2. In a keyboard operated recorder;

means for transporting a record, divided into columns of indexpositions, step by step past a recording point; means for driving saidtransporting means;

an emitter having a plurality of terminals, said emitter actingsequentially in synchronism with said tnansporting means;

a memory means set by a key in said keyboard in accord with the tensdigit designating one of said columns;

a selecting circuit set by a second key in said keyboard designating theunits digit of said selected column,

, said circuit extending through said memory means,

to a terminal of said emitter corresponding to the selected column; and

means to disable said transporting means when said selected terminal onsaid emitter has been reached.

3 In a keyboard operated recorder;

means for transporting a record, divided into columns of indexpositions, step by step past a recording point;

means for driving said transporting means;

an emitter having a plurality of terminals, said emitter actingsequentially in synchronism with said transporting means;

a plurality of circuit closing means, one of which is set by a key insaid keyboard in accord with the tens digit designating one of saidcolumns;

a selecting circuit set by a second key in said keyboard designating theunits digit of said selected column, said circuit extending through saidselected circuit closing means to a terminal of said emitter corresponding to the selected column; and

means to disable said tnansporting means when said selected terminal onsaid emitter has been reached.

4. In a keyboard operated recorder;

means for transporting a record step by step past a recording position;

means for driving said transporting means;

circuit closing means having a plurality of terminals, said closingmeans acting sequentially in synchronism with said transporting means;

a memory means set by a key in said keyboard in accord with a selectednumber of step movements of said transporting means;

a selected circuit set by a second key in said keyboard extendingthrough said memory means to a terminal of said circuit closing means;and

means to disable said transporting means when said selected terminal hasbeen reached by said circuit closing means.

5. Ina keyboard operated recorder;

means for transporting a record divided into columns of index positionsstep by step past a recording point;

means for driving said transporting means;

(an emitter having a plurality of terminals, said emitter actingsequentially in synchronism With said transporting means;

a plurality of relays, one of Which is actuated by a key in saidkeyboard in accord with the tens digit designating one of said columns,

a selecting circuit, closed by a second key in said keyboard designatingthe units digit of one of said columns, said circuit extending throughthe closed contacts of said selected relay to a terminal of said emittercorresponding to the selected column, and

means to disable said transporting means when said selected terminal hasbeen reached.

6. A keyboard operated punch;

feed rolls for transporting a card divided into columns of indexpositions;

means for driving said feed rolls step by step;

a plurality of keys in said keyboard controlling circuits forselectively actuating interposer magnets for controlling said punch;

a plurality of tens relays equal in number to said interposersselectively operated over circuits from said keys;

a switching means for selectively transferring said key circuits fromconnection to said interposers to circuits to said relays;

a decoding matrix of units relays;

an emitter driven in synchronism with said feed rolls;

a control relay actuated in parallel with any one of said tens relays,acting to transfer said key circuits from said tens relays to said unitsrelays;

a stop relay connected to the brush of said emitter;

a circuit closed by one of said keys to operate one or more of said tensrelays;

a second circuit in parallel with said units relays for actuating saiddriving m ans to effect the movement of said feed rolls from column tocolumn; and

a third circuit through the contacts of said units relays, contacts ofthe selected tens relay, contact of the emitter corresponding to theselected column and the stop relay opening the circuits to said controlmeans, stopping the feed rolls at the selected column.

7. A keyboard operated punch;

feed rolls for transporting a card divided into columns of indexpositions,

an escapement for controlling feed rolls;

' a magnet for controlling said escapement;

a continuous drive for said feed rolls;

a clutch magnet for controlling said drive;

a plurality of keys in said keyboard controlling circuits forselectively actuating interposer magnets for controlling said punch;

a plurality of circuit closing means equal in number to said interposersselectively operated over circuits from said keys;

a switch in said circuits for selectively transferring said key circuitsfrom connection to said interposers to circuits to said circuit closingmeans;

a plurality of second circuit closing means forming a decoding matrix;

an emitter driven in synchronism with said feed rolls;

a control relay actuated in parallel with any one of said first circuitclosing means, acting to transfer said key circuits from said first tosaid second circuit closing means;

a stop relay connected to the brush of said emitter;

a circuit closed by one of said keys to operate one or more of saidfirst circuit closing means;

a second circuit in parallel with said second circuit for closing meansfor actuating said escapement magnet and clutch magnet to control thedriving of said feed rolls from column to column; and

a third circuit through said second circuit closing means,

and through the selected one of said first circuit closing means,contact of the emitter corresponding to the selected column and contactsof the stop relay opening the circuit to the escapement and clutchmagnets stopping the feed rolls at the selected column.

8. A keyboard operated punch;

feed rolls for transporting a card divided into columns of indexpositions,

means for driving said feed rolls step by step;

a plurality of keys in said keyboard controlling circuits forselectively actuating inter-poser magnets for con trolling said punch;

a plurality of circuit closing means equal in number to said interposersselectively operated over circuits from said keys;

means for selectively transferring said key circuits from connection tosaid intcrposers, to circuits to said circuit closing means;

a plurality of second circuit closing means forming a decoding matrix;

an emitter driven in synchronism with said feed rolls;

a control relay actuated in parallel with any one of said first circuitmeans, acting to transfer said key circuits from said first to saidsecond circuit closing means;

a stop relay connected to the brush of said emitter;

a circuit closed by one of said keys to operate one or more of saidfirst circuit closing means;

a second circuit in parallel with said second circuit closing means foractuating said driving means to etfect the movement of said card fromcolumn to column; and

a third circuit through said second circuit closing means and throughthe selected one of said first circuit closing means, contact of theemitter corresponding to the selected column and contacts of the stoprelay, opening the circuit to said driving means and stopping the cardat the selected column.

9. A keyboard operated punch;

feed rolls for transporting a card divided into columns of indexpositions;

an escapement for controlling said feed rolls;

a magnet for controlling said escapement;

a continuous drive for said feed rolls;

a clutch magnet for controlling said drive;

a plurality of keys in said keyboard controlling circuits forselectively actuating interposer magnets for con trolling said punch;

a plurality of tens relays equal in number to said interposersselectively operated over circuits from said keys; V

a switch in'said circuits for selectively transferring said key circuitsfrom connection to said interposers to circuits to said relays;

a locking circuit for each of said relays;

a decoding matrix of units relays;

an emitter driven in synchronisrn With said feed rolls;

a control relay actuated in parallel with any one of said tens relaysacting to transfer said key circuits from said tens relays to said unitsrelays;

a stop relay connected to the brush of said emitter;

a circuit closed by one of said keys to operate one or more of said tensrelays; V

a second circuit in parallel with said units relays for actuating saidescapernent magnet and clutch magnet to control the movement of saidfeed rolls column by column; and v a third circuit through the contactsof said units relays, contacts of the selected tens relay, contact ofthe emitter corresponding to the selected column and contacts of thestop relay openingthe circuits to the escapernent and clutch magnetsstopping the feed rolls at the selected column.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,735,491 2/56Frost 234 125 2,995,244 9/59 Sonnanstine 234-14X 3,091,387 5/63 Locke234-13 3,113,718 12/63 Brewer 234124X AIJDPJEW R. JUHASZ, PrimaryExaminer.

1. IN A KEYBOARD OPERATED RECORDER; MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING A RECORD DIVIDED INTO COLUMNS OF INDEX POSITIONS, STEP BY STEP PAST A RECORDING POINT; MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS; CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF TERMINALS SAID CLOSING MEANS ACTING SEQUENTIALLY IN SYNCHRONISM WITH SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS; A MEMORY MEANS SET BY A KEY IN SAID KEYBOARD IN ACCORD WITH THE TENS DIGIT DESIGNATING ONE OF SAID COLUMNS; A SELECTING CIRCUIT SET BY A SECOND KEY IN SAID KEYBOARD, DESIGNATING THE UNITS DIGIT OF SAID SELECTED COLUMN, SAID CIRCUIT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MEMORY MEANS TO A TERMINAL OF SAID CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS CORRESPONDING TO THE SELECTED COLUMN; AND MEANS TO DISABLE SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS WHEN SAID SELECTED TERMINAL HAS BEEN REACHED. 